Taking Big Steps — What Makes You Do It?

So today is the day that William and Catherine (or Wills and Kate, as the newspapers will have it) get hitched.

And deciding to get married is a big step in anyone’s life. But particularly for this couple who have the eyes of the world upon them. William is used to that and has been brought up to know he is in the public eye, but for Catherine it must have been a shock to realise how much of her life will be exposed to public gaze.

Furthermore, once married, Catherine’s status will change substantially and she will have to mind her Ps and Qs, always being aware of Royal protocol. She already seems to have a handle on this and has an admirably pragmatic and common-sense approach to what she can and cannot do.

And although she has spent many years getting to her wedding day, this preparation time may be ultimately the thing that will make this marriage a success. Catherine has had time to get to know her husband and his lifestyle, with all that is involved in that. She has grown up and had time to consider what she is getting into.

So although the step she is taking today is a huge one, she has spent many years preparing for this day.

And that’s what sometimes happens, you make a big change but you have, in fact, been preparing for it for a while. You’ve considered the pros and cons, you’ve looked at your future life and asked yourself realistic questions about it before you make your decision.

And you know what? In spite of all this preparatio
YOU STILL WILL NOT KNOW if the decision is the right one. Because often the biggest decisions of our lives are made with incomplete information. We simply cannot know (without a crystal ball) what the future holds and we cannot plan for all the uncertainties of life.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a chance. Life is about living, not just playing safe. Life is about making the gutsy decisions, not just about existing. Life is about making choices that might make your mother a bit unsure (if you don’t rock your parents’ world just a tiny bit you are playing too safe).

So what gutsy decision are YOU going to make? What major life choice do YOU have in front of you? Go on, be brave, go wild and imagine. Then plan what you will do and when.

You only have one life, so make the most of it.

And William and Catherine? I wish them all the best for their future!

(c) 2011 Liz Copeland